5. I Don’t Care by 2NE1
Release Date: July 1, 2009
Do you remember all the “I don’t care / Tatay mo long hair” jokes? This track, which features the Philippines’ beloved Sandara Park, differs from the edgier songs the group usually produced and, according to CL, served as a warning message for men and advice for women. Similar to when Super Junior was brought to fame in the Philippines, Filipinos began to hugely draw inspirations from Dara, CL, Bom, and Minzy in terms of hair and clothing styles. Also, do you remember seeing Lee Song Juk in the music video back in 2009? Watch the music video again!
ALSO READ: 10 popular songs that you probably did not know were covers
4. Replay by Iyaz
Release Date: July 7, 2009
This song with its reggae influences and tropical-oriented sound had Filipinos mourning the end of summer vacation. From cheap Lomi houses to mall dressing rooms, during the time, this song was played everywhere; it may have been the Despacito of back then if I dare say.
3. Tik Tok by Ke$ha
Release Date: August 7, 2009
Before it was an app for creating short and relatively questionable videos, it was a hit song by Ke$ha, the true proponent of the messy party girl culture. This upbeat electro-pop track with handclaps and minimalist bit-pop beat is paired with this spoken word rap vocal delivery, which is now and then accompanied by this album’s good friend, Auto-Tune. This song may have been far ahead of its time and truly defined the year.
2. Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys
Release Date: October 20, 2009
Do you remember all the “New York / Kangkong kangkong lettuce tomato / With ketchup and mayo” jokes? This hip-hop track’s lyrics tell of the very things that New York is known for – from naming notable locations in the city to naming a few of its famous residents. What had caught Filipinos’ attention, however, is the belting chorus, and most did their best to reach and sustain the notes. Consider it the equivalent of contemporary society’s Buwan Challenge.
1. Bad Romance by Lady Gaga
Release Date: October 26, 2009
This electro-pop or experimental pop (as considered by Gaga herself) record with hints of German-esque house beats is accompanied by lyrics speaking of the singer’s attraction to romances that do not have the capacity of functioning to her personal advantage. Aside the catchiness of the song itself, what made an even more memorable mark on Filipinos is the song’s accompanying music video, which first features Gaga inside a white bathhouse. The video unfolds as Gaga is kidnapped by a group of models, drugged, then sold to the Russian mafia as a sex slave; it ends with her burning the man who had bought her. Considering the artistic, vivid, and striking imagery the music video provides, it became the victim to a number of celebrity and internet sensation parodies. Michael V. in Bubble Gang—how can we forget that?
What other songs from 2009 do you remember? Tell us in the comments section!
